Chapter 26
Closing Remarks and Future Expectations
ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we provide closing remarks for the book and discuss
future expectations for the field of exergy. This chapter summarizes
how the book provides a broad working familiarity and under-
standing of exergy and analysis techniques based upon it, and shows
that on a practical basis exergy analysis provides a useful tool, while
on a more abstract level it provides the basis for contemplation. A
summary is also provided of the profound understanding and benefits
provided by exergy for industrial and other processes and systems.
Speculations are also given on how exergy may be utilized in the
future so as to reap the greatest benefits.
KEYWORDS
Exergy; Exergy analysis; Future expectations.
Exergy is a fascinating and curious aspect of the Second
Law of Thermodynamics (SLT), because on a practical
basis it provides a very useful tool, but on a more abstract
level it provides the basis for endless contemplation. In this
book, we have focused on the former, although we have
delved into the latter many times.
The understanding provided by exergy and its potential
benefits are what has attracted numerous researchers, who
have contributed immeasurably to the development and
application of exergy methods, to this field. The attributes of
exergy will, we are confident, continue to attract researchers
and practitioners well into the future, and exergy methods
will continue to evolve and find new applications.
In short, this book has sought to provide the reader with
a broad working familiarity and understanding of exergy
and analysis techniques based upon it by:
l Identifying and explaining exergy and its use in
improving efficiency and reducing losses, and in
designing better processes and systems
l Discussing the broader aspects of exergy, in areas such
as economics and environment as well as many others,
in addition to corresponding assessment and improve-
ment methods
l Illustrating applications of exergy to many different
systems in hopes of explaining how to apply exergy
methods beneficially; the applications presented have
by no means been comprehensive, as many more
applications exist, but have been selected so as to
provide a representative cross section and to cover
various important fields
Exergy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097089-9.00026-7
2013 Ibrahim Dincer and Marc A. Rosen. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
l Showing the many ways in which exergy can assist in
efforts to achieve more sustainable development, in
terms of many factors including use of sustainable
resources, increased efficiency, reduced environmental
impact, improved economics, and so forth
We feel that the understanding and benefits provided by
exergy of industrial and other processes and systems are
clearly profound in many ways. It is, therefore, worth
developing an appreciation and working knowledge of
exergy methods.
Much has been done to help increase the use of exergy
methods over the last couple of decades, including the
establishment of the International Journal of Exergy and
the organization of many regional and international
conferences, short courses, and workshops on exergy.
These activities complement the impressive developments
occurring in almost every area of science and engineering,
from mechanical engineering to biology and from chemical
engineering to economics, and should ensure that exergy is
utilized as a tool for enhancing advances in science, engi-
neering, and other disciplines.
After writing a book such as this, we cannot help but
contemplate about what the future may hold in store from
an exergy perspective. Some expectations follow on how
exergy may be utilized, or how we hope it will be utilized,
in the future so as to reap the greatest benefits:
l Exergy will become increasingly utilized, across
a diverse array of fields and throughout the developing
and developed world, to increase efficiency, reduce
wastes and losses, and improve processes and systems.
l A standard nomenclature and terminology for exergy
will coalesce, making applications more convenient and
straightforward.
l Exergy will become more integrated with economics and
applied more broadly, and disciplines like thermoeco-
nomics and exergoeconomics will become more mature.
l Exergy will become more integrated with environ-
mental and ecological assessments, through tools like
industrial ecology, life cycle assessment, and others, and
applied more widely. Disciplines like environomics will
become more accepted and mature.
l Exergy will be used to foster sustainability and
contribute to making development more sustainable.
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l Exergy will become a conventional design tool for l Exergy will be increasingly utilized in decision
engineers of energy and other systems. and policy making by leaders in industry and
l Exergy use will grow and expand outside its normal government.
sphere of applications in areas like management
methods, information and communications, and biology If these expectations come to pass, even in part, the
and ecology. potential benefits to humanity through improved processes,
l Exergy will become more broadly covered in educa- technologies, and systems will be both exciting and
tional programs, and used as a basis for explaining and wonderful to observe.
giving practical meaning to the SLT.
l Exergy will achieve a broader understanding and
appreciation by the public and the media, allowing its
broader application.